JVM vs DSL for hot rod JCM tones

[Raimo]

I had the DSL 100HR but returned it. It was supposed to have a lot of gain but as soon as your brought it up, it got moddy. That type of gain. It was also without the punch youre used to with Marshalls. So I bought a used JVM 410H and was able to et all the gain I wanted. On overdive 1 you can get more mellow classic gain and overdrive 2 is more 80's nasty.

 

[SkyMonkey]

1) which part is the the JVM and which is the 2203

2) Which do you prefer

3) To you still maintain that a JVM cannot do vintage tones?

I've never owned either amp (had the DSL401) and I cannot tell the difference.
Both sound ace to me.

 

[SlyStrat]

There are people here giving opinions that don't know what they're talking about.
Anyone praising a DSL shows that.

 

[Mitchell Pearrow]

Part 2 of your clip sounds to me like the 2203, but they both sound great to my ears.
I haven’t been up close and personal with a 2203 in over 28 years, so I may be wrong.
But that is my opinion.
Cheers
Mitch

 

[Adrian R]

There are people here giving opinions that don't know what they're talking about.
Anyone praising a DSL shows that.

Opps here we go...an attempt to troll..lol

 

[SlyStrat]

I've owned every Marshall made.
Here's a few old school.

 

[What?]

And I've heard the opposite - that the DSL100HR is more modern sounding and the JCM2000 is the most classic sounding.

The lead channel on the JCM 2000 is very voiced for modern lead playing. Definitely not classic. The rhythm channel is more like a raw JCM 800.

 

[Buzzard]

I've owned every Marshall made.
Here's a few old school.
Nobody cares.

 

[Buzzard]

Nobody cares

 

[spacerocker]

I've never owned either amp (had the DSL401) and I cannot tell the difference.
Both sound ace to me.

Part 2 of your clip sounds to me like the 2203, but they both sound great to my ears.
I haven’t been up close and personal with a 2203 in over 28 years, so I may be wrong.
But that is my opinion.
Cheers
Mitch

Thanks guys! - Mitch is correct - the second part is the 2203. I think it is very close! For a while I thought the first part was the 2203 simply because I liked it more, and it sounds slightly brighter to me - but when I checked my original recordings, part 1 was the JVM (Crunch Orange) and part 2 was the 2203! Of course, I could have tweaked the EQs a little more, and then I think they would have been indistinguishable!



The point was really aimed at "Albok" - who said:

The JVM cannot get vintage tones it’s voiced to modern. However it’s still a stellar amp.

I think my clip shows that it is possible to get some very good vintage tones from a JVM - but of course it is capable of so much more than just that!

 

[DerekLicon]

BOTH do the classic Marshall tones at that point its in the hands. If you cant get a hot rodded Marshall tone from either one there is a serious issue....

 

[DonP]

The lead channel on the JCM 2000 is very voiced for modern lead playing. Definitely not classic. The rhythm channel is more like a raw JCM 800.

That doesn't explain the difference between the JCM2000 DSL100 and the DSL100HR. We are discussing which one of these two is more classic sounding. Out of these two, which is more classic sounding?

 

[What?]

That doesn't explain the difference between the JCM2000 DSL100 and the DSL100HR. We are discussing which one of these two is more classic sounding. Out of these two, which is more classic sounding?

The later DSL's are much more classic sounding than the 2000 series. Well, at least they aim in that direction, but they have something unpleasant about their sound that rubs me all wrong. The lead channel on the JCM2000's is compressed, smooth, can do the lower end of high gain to very high gain, and sounds much the same down lower as it does turned up higher. It's a shred sort of sound, not the classic crunch sort. Sound character aside, I think the JCM2000's have better sound quality than the newer DSL's.

 

[avspecialist]

I have no experience with DSL line of any version.
I have experience with all JVM versions including Satriani version that I was so hipped about.
Stay away from any JVM as it sounds too thin.
If you still want thin high gain get 800 as it is proven to be good for that kind of sound.
In my experience JVM is one of the worst Marshall line.
Idea is good but when you start pushing buttons and move through different gain stages you will be shaking your head thinking what the heck is this ....
.2

I think of the JVM as a high performance sports car. It really needs to be set up. If I would have listened to the JVM410H with the stock tubes and bias calibration along with Celestion G12T75’s I would say that was the worst amplifier I ever heard.

After owning the 410H for about 9 years now, I have the amp perfectly dialed in., For me my 69 SG Custom, 1960A cab with 4 nicely broken in G12M65 Creambacks, a current production preamp tubes, and properly biased Preferred Series EL34, along with 3 or4 Casey Butt mods, is very hard to beat from low volumes to really turning it up to concert levels this amp really sings.

Just an added note I did recently buy a quad of the G12T75’s and put them in my 1960B cab. The JVM really got very noisy and constant feedback. That was the worst combination I ever tried like I said earlier.

 

[proxy]

I think of the JVM as a high performance sports car. It really needs to be set up. If I would have listened to the JVM410H with the stock tubes and bias calibration along with Celestion G12T75’s I would say that was the worst amplifier I ever heard.

After owning the 410H for about 9 years now, I have the amp perfectly dialed in., For me my 69 SG Custom, 1960A cab with 4 nicely broken in G12M65 Creambacks, a current production preamp tubes, and properly biased Preferred Series EL34, along with 3 or4 Casey Butt mods, is very hard to beat from low volumes to really turning it up to concert levels this amp really sings.

Just an added note I did recently buy a quad of the G12T75’s and put them in my 1960B cab. The JVM really got very noisy and constant feedback. That was the worst combination I ever tried like I said earlier.

You have good thoughts.
But for me that had similar thoughts and great hope about this Marshall line up ... and I had a regular an Satriani model...thinking I do not need an overdrive pedal...
As the matter of fact it turned out that amp does not need an overdrive but need shitload of stuff in order to get i decent...decent not great....
It would cost you dollars and you still will not be happy...I am telling you... an idea is great but practically ....it is horrific amplifier...I do not want to call it names but i can say it is just Marshall money grab ...i can bet you a shiny dime... Marshall people that were deciding about this amp were thinking lets just grab the money.....amp is pure bull shit period ...
.2

 

[Adrian R]

Ther

You have good thoughts.
But for me that had similar thoughts and great hope about this Marshall line up ... and I had a regular an Satriani model...thinking I do not need an overdrive pedal...
As the matter of fact it turned out that amp does not need an overdrive but need shitload of stuff in order to get i decent...decent not great....
It would cost you dollars and you still will not be happy...I am telling you... an idea is great but practically ....it is horrific amplifier...I do not want to call it names but i can say it is just Marshall money grab ...i can bet you a shiny dime... Marshall people that were deciding about this amp were thinking lets just grab the money.....amp is pure bull shit period ...
.2

This is why the single channel Marshalls are so highly revered. The cost of versatility with respect to the JVM and other multi-channel amps is tone...simple physics. I luv the sound of the JMPs/ 800s...but I luv having a second channel if only for a solo boost. The DSL with a couple changes I found was the best compromise.

 

[avspecialist]

It still amazes me that so many different players have so many different reactions to all the amps and speakers, liking and disliking. I guess each on of us gets lucky from time to time. I have definitely bought amps, speakers and pedals that got good reviews and did not work for me at all.

 

[Dean Swindell]

I would concur with your statemet

My friend got an original JCM 2000, had me take it to a gig and I ended up with the treble and mid almost all the way down. Just too bright.

 

[Dean Swindell]

Are you sure about that? Have a listen to the attached sound link - it is in two parts. One part is my 1980 Marshall 2203, and the other is my Marshall JVM410H on Crunch Orange. Please tell me:

1) which part is the the JVM and which is the 2203

2) Which do you prefer

3) To you still maintain that a JVM cannot do vintage tones?

Hey wait a minute - at the bottom you list a bunch of mods to the JVM. Of course it's going to do stuff a stock one won't.

 

[Dean Swindell]

You might consider the TSL. It's got all my favorite Marshall tones in the same amp.

I have a friend who uses one, he got lucky but they are notorious for being lemons.